About Village Heart @ St John's

Welcome to the Village Heart, a vibrant community space nestled within St John's Church in Donisthorpe! 

This fantastic facility is open to residents of Oakthorpe, Donisthorpe, Acresford, Moira, as well as people from further afield. While the church remains an active place of worship with services held throughout the year, our versatile space is available for hire.  

Please check our booking calendar for live availability 

After just over a year of work, St John's Church reopened in August 2024 as The Village Heart  @St John's, having been respectfully and sensitively transformed into a modern, flexible multi-purpose facility designed to serve the whole community.

Key Features:

• Community Hub: The Village Heart is designed to be a welcoming and inclusive space for all members of the community, providing a venue for meetings, family celebrations, children's parties, classes, workshops, and more…
• Active Place of Worship: While the facility is available for hire, St John's Church continues to function as an active place of Christian worship, with regular services throughout the year.
• Versatile Space: The Village Heart offers a range of amenities to accommodate different types of events, ensuring that the needs of the community are met.
• Dog-Friendly: Situated within the National Forest, we are happy to say that pets are welcome, making it a convenient location for pet owners who want to include their furry friends in their activities.

Please join us at the Village Heart for a warm and welcoming community experience. Click here to make a booking

What does this mean for the church?

Preserving History: Project Village Heart honours the historical and architectural beauty of this 180-year-old building by taking a piece of the past and transforming it into a vibrant and inclusive present that will continue to inspire generations to come. We plan to celebrate our heritage whilst creating a multi-functional space for the future.

Fostering Community Spirit, Creativity and Lifelong Learning: Whilst still providing a quiet space for contemplation and prayer, the building will also become a versatile space to support all kinds of activities catering for family celebrations, clubs, classes, and village community events (regardless of weather conditions).

So, there you have it!

Project Village Heart will halt the decline of available community space within the Parish whilst unlocking a world of possibilities. It will bring people together and enhance our community whilst preserving our heritage. A real win-win!

How has this been made possible?

The transformation of the building happened following 15+ years of planning by members of the local church community in collaboration with other residents within the Parish. 

Thanks to the donations of a least a dozen generous benefactors including The National Lottery Community Fund who helped us to raise £730k+, we are now delighted to announce that the long-awaited Village Heart community project has finally become a reality... with a start date in August 2024!

What can I do to help?

We will need all of you to adopt, use and support this initiative to ensure its future success and longevity. Let’s ALL make it happen!

Click here to view our booking calendar and make an enquiry